Clinical Fellows Spotlight

Lynne S. Gots, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Science
The George Washington University School of Medicine

The Clinical Fellows program has given me a compelling incentive to attend the ADAA annual conferences in order to earn the required CEUs and stay current in the field. I’ve always enjoyed the workshops and the added bonus of meeting up with colleagues I’ve come to know from my regular attendance over the years but now I make it an absolute priority. The credential distinguishes me from others in the field and is a formal acknowledgement of my commitment to my patients and to my professional growth. I’ve received all my credits by attending the conferences, mostly because it’s easy to do. The webinars don’t fit my schedule, but for some, they probably would be a convenient way to accrue CEUs.

Nina Rifkind, LCSW, ACS

Becoming an ADAA Clinical Fellow was one of the best decisions I’ve made since going full time with my private practice. Prior to then, many of my CEU decisions, were based on scheduling and proximity to home. I knew I was missing the type of learning I craved, research-based, practical clinical techniques and strategies that would continue to make me a better clinician, but wasn’t sure where to find these things. When I attended my first ADAA conference in many years, I knew I’d found the training ground I’d been craving. One that gave me the extra bit of professional confidence, support and ongoing source of learning that helped me build a successful, thriving practice, and gain recognition in the community for my expertise. When colleagues in the area call me “the OCD queen”, or refer severe cases they don’t feel equipped to handle, I know that ADAA trainings have helped me build this reputation. The vast majority of my CE credits come from attending the annual conferences. I also participate in ADAA webinars throughout the year. The topics are always timely and many times, tailored for specialty areas of treatment. My advice to clinical fellows, is to take full advantage of the annual conference. Not only will you satisfy most, if not all, CE requirements, but you’ll be inspired by other attendees, guest speakers, the ADAA staff, and all of the opportunities to engage, consult and network. I feel energized by the sense of community, and ready to take on new challenges every year.

It’s quite an experience to have people, including teens and young children, confide their greatest fears and darkest thoughts to you, trusting that you’ll be respectful, compassionate and encourage them to laugh at the silliness of symptoms when the time is right. Many times, you are asking them to walk down a very frightening road, to trust that it will lead them to relief. I’m grateful when people agree to travel that road with me, adults, adolescents, and the parents of young children, who are agreeing on their child’s behalf.

I think they have this trust, because I’m able to share tidbits of what I’ve seen for myself. That an 8 year old, who quit soccer, refuses to see her friends, and is so distracted by fears of contamination and intrusive sexual thoughts, from OCD, that she is on the verge of school refusal, can return to the things she loved within a few months; That a man who has barely left home in 20 years due to panic disorder and agoraphobia, can take a train from NJ to Florida for a month long visit with his mother, just 5 months after starting treatment; and, That an adolescent boy who dropped out of college because of panic attacks triggered by social anxiety, is working, while attending community college, has his first girlfriend and is making plans to transfer to an out of state school in the fall, less than a year after starting treatment.

These are just a few of the many transformations I’ve been thankful to be a part of. None of these individuals has a seamless road ahead of them; but they now have skills to help manage and overcome struggles they face in the future. I see firsthand, that knowledge about their illness, and the availability of evidence-based treatments, alone, provides a sense of relief that many who’ve fought their battle in silence, have never known. That’s a powerful gift to be able to give.

Providing evidence-based treatment for OCD and related anxiety disorders has always been a priority in my practice. Too many consumers and healthcare professionals lack awareness of what this entails. ADAA has been dedicated to educating and providing resources to mental health professionals and the public for many decades. Being part of ADAA’s Clinical Fellow’s program further demonstrates an advanced level of competency in my area. The most efficient way to obtain CE credits required for the Clinical Fellows program is to attend ADAA’s Annual Conference. This is one of my favorite professional conferences where I get to catch up with colleagues and stay abreast on current research and clinical topics related to OCD and anxiety disorders. It’s simply work AND play all within one weekend. If attending the conference is not feasible, ADAA also offers monthly webinars that provide CE credits.

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Founded in 1979, ADAA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.